Wanhua Chemical Group to Build $1.12B Chemical Plant in U.S.

Chinese firm Wanhua Chemical Group is planning to build a $1.12 billion chemical methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) manufacturing complex in Louisiana, Louisiana Economic Development (LED) announced by press release Monday.

170 jobs are expected to be directly created through the project, which combines a $954 million capital investment from Wanhua with $166 million invested by project partners.

“Today’s announcement of Wanhua Chemical’s decision to select Louisiana is a testament to the strength of Louisana’s business climate and unmatched transportation logistics,” Louisana Governor John Bel Edwards said in the LED release. “Our highly skilled workforce, our natural resources, and our world-class infrastructure allow companies like Wanhua to make significant investments in our state and create great new jobs while strengthening their competitive edge.”

LED said Wanhua’s project is the “second-largest” foreign direct investment (FDI) in the state from a company based in mainland China. The state offers access to natural gas and other feedstocks, as well as deepwater transportation through the Mississippi River.

MDI, an intermediate chemical often used in foams and elastomers, is a rapidly growing category of chemicals as its applications extend to a variety of industries like footwear, furniture, textiles, electronics, and appliances. In industrial settings, MDI is frequently employed in the development of rollers, packing, vibration insulators, and synthetic leather.

Wanhua is expected to announce its final site selection in Louisana within the coming months, according to LED.

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